Ojai Raptor Center open house offers rare peek inside

Bob, an American kestral, is among the bird that have lived at the Ojai Raptor Center. An open house is being held on Sunday, where visitors can get a rare peek at the facility that is normally closed to the public.(Photo: TROY HARVEY/SPECIAL TO THE STAR)Buy Photo

A 24-year-old golden eagle that severed his wing as a baby will be among the many “ambassador” birds the public can meet at the Ojai Raptor Center’s fall open house on Sunday.

“Our mission is to rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wildlife, and provide education for the community about what to do if they find an animal,” said Kim Stroud, founder of the center.

The Ojai Raptor Center is not open to the public, so the open house events offer a rare peek at the wildlife that call the center home. On Sunday, guests can get up close to meet the resident birds, including Shytan, the golden eagle that has lived at the center for about two decades.

“Shytan severed his wing on an electrical power line when he was 1,” Stroud said. “He’s retired now, so he doesn’t do educational programs anymore. But people can still see him in our flight pen.”

Miki, a Mississippi kite, is among the birds that have lived at the Ojai Raptor Center. An open house is being held on Sunday.(Photo: STAR FILE PHOTO)

The theme of this year’s open house is "Wild Wings: Identifying Birds of Prey in Flight." From noon to 4 p.m., guests can participate in silent auctions, hear Chumash stories and watch stage presentations. Activities for children will include a treasure hunt, making owls from pine cones, and other arts and crafts.

“It will be a farmers-market-like setting, with presentations going on the whole time about the different birds at our center,” Stroud said.

Volunteers will be roaming around the grounds with the center’s resident ambassador birds on their arms. Tours will also be given of the center’s flight pens.

The public can meet Riley, an Eastern screech owl who came to center from Louisville, Kentucky, after he was hit by a car, affecting his eyesight and hearing.

This albino vulture is among the birds that have called the Ojai Raptor Center home. The center, which is normally closed to the public, is open for tours on Sunday.(Photo: STAR FILE PHOTO)

Guests can also meet Sassie, a red-tailed hawk that arrived with both of her wings and legs broken. When she was young, someone kept her in a small cage, where she was fed an improper diet, leading to metabolic bone disease. With a specially made harness, she underwent physical therapy five times a day for six weeks. Today, she is able to perch and move around with ease — but she will never be able to fly.

The open house "shines a spotlight on the rehab work we do,” said Lizzy Chouinard, of Ventura, a part-time staff member at the center.

“A lot of people in our community don’t even know we’re here and that we take in all wildlife," she explained. "So the open house is a great opportunity to see these wild birds up close, hear about their species and learn what they do for our ecosystem.”

Avalon, a young female bald eagle that was found with a broken wing, is among the birds that have lived at the Ojai Raptor Center. Normally closed to the public, the center is holding an open house on Sunday.(Photo: STAR FILE PHOTO)

The fall open house is also one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Ojai Raptor Center. It costs $12,000 a month to operate the nonprofit, even with 140 active volunteers, Stroud said.

“This year we hope to raise $20,000,” Stroud said. “The money will help us build one more flight pen, so that’s our goal.”

“We wouldn’t be able to operate without donations,” Stroud said. “We’re state and federally licensed by Fish and Wildlife, but receive no federal funds.”

Buy Photo

Noha, a northern harrier, is among the birds that have lived at the Ojai Raptor Center, which is normally closed to the public. The facility is putting on an open house on Sunday.(Photo: ROB VARELA/THE STAR)

Only a couple of birds living at the center are nonnative to this zone, Chouinard added.

“So almost all of our birds are birds they can see in the wild if they go around Ojai,” she said. “We want people to enjoy our open house, which is basically highlighting our work and educational programs, letting people know that we’re here and bolstering an appreciation for birds of prey.”